And so the two mothers came before King Solomon, each claiming to be mother to the baby they brought to him. There had been two babies and one died during the night. One mother swore that the live baby was hers and that the other mother had switched babies after the death of her own baby. The other mother denied that she had done any such thing. After considerable deliberation, King Solomon decided that since neither mother could prove her assertion, the baby be divided in half. He called for his sword and as one of the women nodded in agreement, the other stepped forward and begged him not to proceed. “Give her the baby,” she cried out, “Do not harm this child.” King Solomon nodded and handed the child over to her, believing her to be the true mother, willing to sacrifice in order to save her child.

What has this story to do with politics and candidates and the United States of America? This story deals with sacrifice, in this case of a life, but sacrifice comes in many places and with many faces.

By definition, sacrifice is the surrender of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim.

We are all called on to sacrifice – a parent who cares for a child may make great financial sacrifices as well as sacrifices in terms of life choices. Sometimes we sacrifice by giving our available time and energy to care for an aging parent. At other times, our sacrifice is tied into our working at a job we dislike in order to provide for those who depend on us. There are too many ways in which we all make sacrifices to be enumerated. For most of us sacrifice is an unquestioning part of our life.

Without seeking the wisdom of a King Solomon, we can see that sacrifices are made on many levels, and that brings us back to politics or more specifically politicians and let’s start with Ralph Nader.

Ralph Nader contributed in some degree to the Democratic loss in the last election. Despite that, in order to satisfy his own needs, he is reentering the Presidential race again this year, knowing that any votes he may gain will come from Democratic voters and not from their opponents.
A sacrifice is called for here. Mr. Nader must sacrifice whatever his needs are because of the greater needs of his country. He must put away his own sword and not divide the voters further. If his leadership is akin to that of the true mother, he will repudiate his claims and relinquish the baby.
Mr. Nader is not alone in his refusal to sacrifice. The Democratic candidates – some at least – need the advice of our King Solomon. Why does a candidate like Dennis Kucinich remain in the race, criticizing members of his own party at a time when “united we stand” is so critical? He must examine his own needs to see why he is not willing to sacrifice, why he puts himself above the needs of the baby, in this case America. Dennis, we call for a sacrifice from you. Sacrifice can be painful but it can make you feel good, and from your actions, you need something to make you feel good. Try it.

We give the same advice to Al Sharpton, sure that the King would approve. You’re too smart not to know you can’t win the nomination, so why not make the sacrifice? You like to play devil’s advocate and that amused us for a time but this is serious business right now and we need to close our ranks. Give up the baby and support the true mother. People will respect and admire you for it and you might feel good, too.

As for the two remaining candidates, we’re well aware that you both want to win, but at the end of the day someone is going to have to sacrifice and that road can be rocky. Don’t damage the baby because when it becomes wholly yours again, you’ll need it to be intact. If you can heal the breach, knowing you are putting the needs of your country above your own, you won’t need the rhetoric about who you are and what you are. We all know what it means to sacrifice.

John Adams, one of the founders of our Constitution said, “If it be the pleasure of Heaven that my country shall require the poor offering of my life ……shall be ready, at the appointed hour of sacrifice, come when that hour may. But while I do live, let me have a country and that a free country.” A great man and one who was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. We ask much less, but with no less fervor to keep our country free.